Robert William Service

My Hour

Day after day behold me plyingMy pen within an office drear;The dullest dog, till homeward hieing,Then lo! I reign a king of cheer.A throne have I of padded leather,A little court of kiddies three,A wife who smiles whate'er the weather,A feast of muffins, jam and tea.

The table cleared, a romping battle,A fairy tale, a "Children, bed,"A kiss, a hug, a hush of prattle(God save each little drowsy head!)A cozy chat with wife a-sewing,A silver lining clouds that low'r,Then she too goes, and with her going,I come again into my Hour.

I poke the fire, I snugly settle,My pipe I prime with proper care;The water's purring in the kettle,Rum, lemon, sugar, all are there.And now the honest grog is steaming,And now the trusty briar's aglow:Alas! in smoking, drinking, dreaming,How sadly swift the moments go!

Oh, I would wish the wide world over,In ports of passion and unrest,To drink and drain, a tarry roverWith dragons tattooed on my chest,With haunted eyes that hold red gloriesOf foaming seas and crashing shores,With lips that tell the strangest storiesOf sunken ships and gold moidores;

Till sick of storm and strife and slaughter,Some ghostly night when hides the moon,I slip into the milk-warm waterAnd softly swim the stale lagoon.Then through some jungle python-haunted,Or plumed morass, or woodland wild,I win my way with heart undaunted,And all the wonder of a child.